This is the latest in a series of reports supplied by the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) with the intention of keeping BIMCO members appraised of legislative developments in the US affecting international shipping. BIMCO highlights only the relevant developments that would impact members. The full CSA July report is also provided.

As one of the Buckingham Palace Declaration Signatories, BIMCO is keen to share the United for Wildlife Taskforce Alerts. These are advisories for issues of high concern related to wildlife trafficking and the transport sector, and are a core output of the Taskforce Information Sharing System.

Preventing pest container contamination was one of the many items discussed at IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 98). Cyber risk management, autonomous ships, security and adoption of amendments to mandatory instruments were also on the agenda.

For the first time, IMO will discuss the maritime autonomous ships. The use of autonomous ships – or so-called unmanned ships - will create the need for a regulatory framework for such ships and their interaction and co-existence with manned ships.